Can you hold off dinner for ten minutes?
hold off
idiomTo delay (someone or something) temporarily; to keep at bay.
The rain held off long enough for us to finish the picnic.
Though the enemy pressed hard against the gates, the defenders managed to hold them off until reinforcements arrived at dawn.
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apron-string hold
An estate held by a man during his wife's life.
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buy and hold
A passive investment strategy where an investor purchases an asset and retains it for many years, rather than trading it frequently.
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don't hold your breath
Don't wait. Said cynically to suggest that what has just been mentioned is unlikely to happen soon or at all.
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hold a grudge
To stay angry (at someone or something).
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hold a light
Synonym of hold a candle.
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hold back
To act with reserve; to contain one's full measure or power.
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hold by the button
To detain in conversation to the point of weariness or tedium; to bore while tallking to
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hold cheap
To have a low esteem for (someone or something); to hold in contempt; to look down upon.
Last updated April 17, 2026